Iran

Elizabeth Teach

Iranian Political Briefing Paper

Government Head• Chief of State = Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei1 since 19892• Head of State = President Mahmoud Ahmadi-nejad1 since 20053

Government Type• Islamic Republic: Consists of a constitution and three primary branches as follows4: o Executive:• Supreme Leader (Head of state)• President (head of government)• Council of ministers• Assembly of experts• Expediency council• Council of guardianso Legislative:• 290-member Miles (National Assembly or Islamic Consultative Assembly)o Judicial• Supreme judiciary

Three Major Current Political Issues • On October 26, Iran loaded their Bushehr nuclear reactor10 in opposition to the UN and respective countries. o Though Iran claims that the reactor is merely a source of energy supply for the country, there is no evidence that the country will not use it as a weapon in the future, especially since it has evaded necessary talks with the UN and has refused to answer questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency11. • UN and EU Sanctioning of Iran through prohibiting Iran from buying heavy weapons and banning any mutual energy investments12,13,14.• The US is realizing the ineffectiveness of this and is instead offering a stricter nuclear deal to Iran15• Conflict between Israel and Iran that could result in war.o Iran is pro-Palestine and anti-Israelo Israel feels threatened with Iran having control over nuclear warfare.16o War is a possibility, though not likely anytime soon.

Relationship between religion and the government/public sector • Known as an Islamic Republic, Iran is governed by a mix of religious and political leaders who’s duties tend to overlap. The 1979 constitution established Shi’a Islam as Iran’s official religion.• There is no separation between church and state as seen in the US4.

Country’s State of Freedom in the Press, Assembly, and Speech. • Lack freedom of speech. The Iranian government warns, antagonizes, and arrests those they disagree with20. • The telecommunications are state-controlled and consequently, tv, internet, and news is censored21